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Approval for new crossing awaited New Forth crossing plans approved
(about 3 hours later)
Plans for a new Forth crossing costing £1bn are expected to be ratified by the Scottish Cabinet. The Scottish Cabinet has backed plans to build a new bridge or a tunnel across the Firth of Forth.
It follows a decision taken by the first minister and the transport minister at the end of last year. Ministers have yet to decide on the route and funding method but the project is expected to cost about £1bn.
The cost to replace the existing Forth Road Bridge, which is suffering from corrosion, is almost double that of earlier estimates.The cost to replace the existing Forth Road Bridge, which is suffering from corrosion, is almost double that of earlier estimates.
If the damage to the bridge cannot be halted, heavy lorries will have to be banned from crossing it by 2013. Ministers looked at expert assessments and agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to building a new crossing.
Ministers are understood to have been briefed on the condition of the existing bridge and have considered engineering assessments and detailed reports. Fife MSPs and business leaders have been backing plans for a new crossing although some campaigners say it is already too late to prevent major disruption.
'Great anxiety' The Green Party is not convinced the existing bridge cannot be repaired to avoid having to close it to heavy goods vehicles by 2013.
The plans may involve the construction of a replacement bridge or a tunnel. Final decisions on the funding method, the route and whether a bridge or tunnel would be best will be taken after the Holyrood elections.
Phil Flanders, of the Road Haulage Association, backed the construction of a new crossing.Phil Flanders, of the Road Haulage Association, backed the construction of a new crossing.
"Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said."Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said.
"It's going to take that length of time to build a new bridge and what would happen if there's no new bridge when HGVs are banned doesn't bear thinking about."
Councillor Mike Rumney, chair of Fife Council's environment and development committee, said: "The lack of a decision is causing great anxiety amongst the business sector.
"That's not only bad for the economy of Fife, but for the economy of the whole east of Scotland and the central belt."